LatAm losing fear of legalizing drugs: Ecuador president

Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said Tuesday that Latin America is “losing fear” of legalizing drugs after decades of fighting traffickers with ample US prodding but limited success. The region’s governments have opened talks toward developing a shared stance on legalization, and the topic is no longer off-limits, the leftist leader told a forum on economic development in Guatemala City. “There’s not a common position in Latin America, (but) that’s under discussion now. Correa, an economist by training, called for an open debate on which drugs can be legalized and what the health impact would be, with the goal of reducing the violence the war on drugs has unleashed in the region.